ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 20, 1997 TAG: 9701210046
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLA.
SOURCE: Associated Press
Joe Ruttman, who didn't win a NASCAR truck series event last season, opened this one by winning a thrilling last-lap shootout with Jack Sprague on Sunday.
Ruttman drove his Ford to the inside of Sprague's Chevrolet as they began the last lap of the $544,134 Chevy Trucks Challenge race at Walt Disney World Speedway. Their trucks slammed together, Sprague spun out and Ruttman went on to a victory worth $55,500, his first since Sept. 25, 1995.
Ruttman's final victory margin was 0.542 seconds over Butch Miller, who also drove a Ford. Sprague wound up 15th, the final driver to complete the 200-lap distance. The winner's average speed of 88.159 mph was slowed by 55 laps of caution. (Results in Scoreboard. B4)
``We've had a tremendous truck all along,'' said Ruttman, who at 52 is the oldest driver ever to win on the three-year-old circuit. ``I've just never gotten in a position where we could win.''
The victory ended a 28-race losing streak, second-longest by a winner on the circuit.
Five drivers traded the lead 10 times, although Sprague was dominant, having led from the 15th lap when he passed Dave Rezendes. The race's 13th caution, however, closed the field on the 191st lap and set up a six-lap dash to the checkered flag.
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines KEYWORDS: AUTO RACINGby CNB